The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-19
Not So Black a Painted

Prof. Creighton relieves the character
of Alexander VI. OF much of the black
ness with which tradition has surround
ed it, it having made the Borgia types of
such unrestrained wickedness that il is
difficult to judge them fairly without
seeming to paliiate iniquity- Yet JUS
tice demands q recognition how far
they represented the tendencies of their
age and how far they went beyond them
The secularized Papacy and the inmor-
al politics of Europe can excite nothing
but disgust, but the seculariZation of the
Papacy was begun by Sixtus ~, was
as profound under innocent VIII. as I'M
der Alexander VI, and was not much
mended under julius III. and Leo v po-
htical perfidy was universal in Italy; and
Louis XII. and Ferdinand of Arageon
were as pertidious as the Pope The
end Of the 18th century shows the Po-
litical and social corruption that fol-
lowed on the decay of religious belief,
Just as the history of the 10th century
shows how long time was needed
before a religious revival could re-
ESTABLISH morality or influence politics
The exceptional infamy that attaches to
Alexander VI is largely due to the fact
that he did not add hypocrisy To his other
vices. But however much his own
times may have forgotten that there was
any meaning in the position of the head
of the Christian Church. it is impossible
for after times to adopt the same forget
fulness."
His career was that of an active and
INSCRIPTIONS statesman, yet he was not
unmindful of the formal duties of his
office. discharging its ecclesiastical
duties with the same diligence that he
showed in other matters. Yet Alexan-
der vi. was profoundly secular, and was
so recognized by his contemporaries.
.I.ra I,fs.
open disregad of public opinion, his av-
owed delight in his children, and his po-
litical unscrupulousness. all these com
bined to emphasize the secular character
of his pontiticate in marked manner,
$50 He had n large end strong nature
which he worked and directed to his
purposes. His active brain was always.
devising fresh schemes. His keen intel
ligence was trained by diligent observa-
ton: but he was not naturally qualified
to be a statesman, to intrigue and to cal
culate. Handsome, joyous and genial
he was best fitted to attract ladies by his
winning ways, and cajole them by his
honeyed speeches. He was amiable and
pleasant; man who wished to enjoy
life himself and make others enjoy it.
When he entered upon political career,
he carried into il the same zest. the
eagerness- the same clear purpose of
ktttfnG tflat was To DE got. lie Dtu "A
boyish frankness in the pursuit of his OBJ
ject which was taken for profound dis
stimulation He was keen in poll
tics and keen in enjoyment. He seems
always to have lived at the highest pres
sure, and never to have felt the strain
of life. He worked hard. but he was
always buoyant. he never showed fear,
and he was ready To enter into any
form of amusement. %** In all his en-
joyments he was frank, and paid no
heed to conventional decorum. $3.50
The Vatican was frequently the scene of
indecent orgies, at which the Pope did
not scruple to be present. Men shrugged
their shoulders at these things, and few
in Rome We're seriously shocked. The
age was corrupt, and the Pope's example
sanctioned its corruption, In Alexander
vi Papacy stood forth in all the strength
of its emancipation from morality.